Ok here’s what I found based on a message a very smart fellow sent me, I’ll let him take credit if he wants It. I’ll leave him anonymous. I didn’t understand that there were actually two passages under the gav body, one directly beneath it that goes to the bowl and another above that goes laterally that’s under the plug. That’s what I was so confident that the passage was open. I was able to get a paper clip through the passage under the plug and removed the cap jet and saw it exit the passage along with a wad of crud. Got it all back together and a quarter turn now gives very different results. It ran great as it was but I may be able to do more fine tuning now. No brass seat under gav needle.
Since I didn’t know that passage was there I feel like technically Ive still never (ever) been wrong.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.